Leadership Lessons: Help Your Team Put Their Best Foot ForwardBy Randy Wright, president of Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care, from Business News Daily

There’s no one “right” way to lead a business. Today’s leaders have a lot of wisdom to impart about managing the modern workforce because each one approaches leadership in his or her own unique way. Every week, Business News Daily will share a leadership lesson from a successful business owner or executive.

The leader: Randy Wright, president of Cottman Transmission and Total Auto CareTime in current position: 5 yearsRandy’s philosophy: “Give your employees many opportunities to put their best foot forward and shine in their areas of responsibility.” (Click to tweet)

In order to serve as a great leader, it is important to lead by example. One memorable moment in my career was when the chairman of the Board of Western Auto once told me, “Businesses are not buildings, lighting, strategies or formats. Businesses are people who should be respected, nurtured and allowed to be leaders of their business areas.” I took this advice very seriously when I first heard it.
Another experience that guides many of my leadership decisions comes from an adult karate class I joined a few years ago. During my training, I learned many Japanese words, including “Osh,” which means to “move bravely forward to the new and unknown.” I feel that this experience is a regular occurrence for any leader that wants the best for their team.

With that said, a leader should embrace that feeling of risk and unease and push forward for the betterment of the team. Time and time again, I have seen that putting your best foot forward in any situation, known or unknown, also inadvertently teaches your employees how to be leaders one day.